Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-09-15
CONTAMINATED WELLS.

II man were to 60 abroad in his
garden and fields and scatter Paris
green or any other deadly poison over
the cabbages and other vegetables, on
the strawberries and fruits; and in the
closets in the house were to dust the
bread and other food with some such
virulent poison. he would be counted
lunatic or a most reckless criminal.
Ii he did not know what he was doing,
he might he acquitted of criminality,
but the results of his ignorance would
be no less disastrous and deadly.
But thousands. nay tens of thou
sands of persons are daily and hourly
scattering abroad equally virulent
poison. without knowing, and some,
alas! with full knowledge. but most
amazing carelessness, and injecting
themselves and their most loved ones
with deadly diseases 1t is in summer
that this ever-present and ever-increas-
ing danger is most imminent and
this danger exists in the worst form
in which it can come, viz. in the water
we drink. Decaying organic matter is
one OF the worst of poisons;it reeks
with germs whose Office in nature is to
disorganize and destroy all matter.
As regards dead and waste matter.
these germs, like animals which are
carrion consumers. serve useful pur-
pose; but as regards living creatures.
they are most injurious and destructive
Strangely. too. they are most abundant
and deadly in rural localities. where
purity and health are most expected
When taken into the animal system
they attack the blood. being carried
there most easily, and produce various
fevers. diarrhea, dysentery (the COM
monty called summer complaint and
typical Of the prevailing danger de-
scribed). and in thousands of cases
these disorders are fatal Friends
wonder why in so healthful locality,
where pure air abounds, these diseases
should be SO frequent, and honestly
believe that these sad deaths were I'M
neutrality-suspicious. is the term
used. Surely in many cases the sins
and neglects of the parents are visited
upon the children who are tho first to
suffer.
Impure water is the prevailing cause.
and the centers of infections are the
wells. Water is large part of the
substance of person. The human
body consists mainly of water, seventy
five per cent. of it being thus composed.
All this part of the system is absorbed
in the water we drink. and if the
source of all this part of our body is
impure, how can we exist? 1t is amaz-
ing. considering the vast amount of
impurity taken into the stomach and
absorbed by the blood. that pestilences
are not prevailing every year. when
the heat contributes very much to the
rapid decomposition of the household
wastes which are cast out and accum-
ulate in the cesspools. slush pools.
open drains, sinks. stables. yards,
pig pens and various other GEN.
ters of foulness. Where does it all 90?
The rains wash it into the soil and
it sinks gradually deeper and deeper.
spreading laterally all the while until
it finds an outlet with the saltwater
into the well or spring from which
the household supply may be taken. 1t
is only question of time when new
made cesspool. new slop-hole, leak
ing drain. will discharge its dangerous
and deadly contents into the new made
well. An expert examining the ground
and the soil and figuring the rainfall.
can tell you. within few months, when
the danger will eliminate and the
deadly poison flow into the we'll
But you say the soil will filter the
water and keep back the impurity, or
its approach may be known by sight |
taste or smell. No such thing. A filter
can not always act and will become
fouled in time and the stream of fifth.
like slow-moving time, is always go
ing to the outlet The soil oxidizes
decaying organic matter. and this
action makes the poison more active
and fatal.
What is the remedy! A bandon the
dangerous system and 60 back-for-
ward is the better word to that incul-
Gated by the philosopher Of ancient
times. Moses. Read the Mosaic laws
pertaining to cleanliness. hygiene and
health. CieaAliness with Noses was a
and paramount law. and
part of the Jews religion. 1t ought to
be still more so among Christians. and
in this age Of intelligence and news
papers and books. There is an easy
Abandon the poisonous cess.
pool and use the dry earth-closet.
which was the system prevailing in
the Mosaic time. and is no new thing.
Dry earth is q most effective deodorizer
and disinfectant Its porosity favors .
most complete oxidation of organic
matter. and in practice this action is
so complete that the earth taken
from closet has been used
over and over again after short in-
tervals for rest for ten times. and still
Pul1v ovor.o1 Tho Ios;ro1 nffocf Tho |